Signaling device for automobiles.



H. T. MUR-PHY. SIGNALING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION 'man oec. zo, ms,

Patented 3fm. 2,l N17, /fff 44 HAROLD T. MURPHY. or SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.'

SIGNALING DEVICE FR ATMDBILES.

=and resident of Springfield, inthe county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful lmprf'ivements 1n Signaling Devices for Autolinobiles, of 'which` the following is a full,

clear, and exact description.

The object of this invention is to provide signal at the rear of the frame of an autoabile, which is operative in conjunction with the brake operating rod,'to Set a signal so as to indicate, preparatory to the setting ofthe brake forv slowing up orstopping the car that such slowing or stopping is to transpire, whereby the driver of a `vehicle behind ma)v govern himself accordingly.

Another object of the invention is to provide the signaland operating means therefor of such simple, practical, and inexpene sive construction as to render it acceptable and desirable to makers and Lusers of automobiles.

The invention is described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and-is set forth in the claim.

In the drawings: Figure l shows a side elevation of the rear portion of an automobile having the present improved signaling device mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation ona larger scale for more clearlyshowing the signaling device. .F ig. 3 is a rear elevation ofFig. 2. Fig. l is a plan View of the same parts shown. in Fig.

Q, andFig. 5 is a sectional elevation showing a two part construction and provisions for lost motion of the parts' comprised in the signal operating rod.

In the drawings, A represents the rod for operating the band brake lon one of the rear wheels a of the automobile, such brake being operable, as usual, on the forward draft thereof to set the brake and to release the brake when reversely moved.

B represents the signal member which is adapted to be swung from an approximately horizontal position almost but not quiteto a vertical position for showing, when in the latter position, the word Stop thereon or other appropriate legend or symbol for notification to the driver yof a' Vehicle behind that the automobile having the signal is about to slow down or stop.

The signal member is carried on a bracket C secured on any suitable rear portion of Specification of vI'ietters Patent:

swung' from to its nearly `Patented Jan, 1917'. Application :nea December 2o, 1915. seriainaaasos. i

the automobile onV which itniay approprif ately be mounted without 'partaking of the vertical vibration of the spring supported body; asshown .the bracket is carried on the tubular housing Ib of the rear wheel axle. Thisbracket horizontally rearwardly extended i's provided with anfupstanding member (Z to aglow'er portion of which the signal member" is lconnected by a pivot f, the length of which is parallel with the rear wheel axle andthe housing b" therefor. i

G represents a rod ranging substantially parallel with the brake rod A, 'and connected thereto through' the medium of a rigid rod or bar c, such rod G being rearwardly extended -to' connection 'with the signal member B at a point f/ slightly above the pivot 7'; so that under the forward draft of the brake rod for the tightening of the brake band, the signal' member will be its approximately'v horizontal the position shown in Fig. l to that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, for displaying the warning to another at the rear of the machine.

The bracket is provided 'with a stop 71, on which the signal member may rest while in its normal position, and the upstanding member thereof is provided with another abutment shoulder or stop z' against.which the signal when swung to the position which. is nearly vertical, but nevertheless upwardly and rearwardly inclined, may be brought to limiting abutment.

vertical position, that is from` Inasmuch as the amount of draft motion on the signal .operating rod G is comparativelyslight-,towing to the proximity of the pivot` g to the pivot f, as necemary to insure the throwing up of the signal, such motion being less than the usual movement required of the brake rod for the tight setting of the brake, I construct the signal operating rod in two sections, 7c and m, providing on the section m.,-which is directly connected to the signal member,-a yoke n which errisetting direction and with it thorod section L' and its lijead 0, the rod sectionV m is correspondmgly drawn, without the spring be-` coming compressed, and the signal is thrown up to its effective position. This will y/occur considerably betore the brake becomes tightcned to retard or stop the automobile; and in the further continued draft movement of the brake operating rod it is effective, after the signal has Abeenthrown up', to cause, without draft movement on the rod section fm, an independent draft movement on the '.rod section le, as permitted by the compression of the springt in the yoke n. y

lVhen the brake is released and the signal operating rodreversely moved, the parts will automatically resume their normal conditions, the 'spring t being effective to return the rod sections to their normal positions,

and the signal, owing to its inclination willl for connection with the brake operating rod as described, areso few and simple asl to render the device desirable and-.Worthy as an equipment onlan'automobile, and the action` thereof,A as appreciated, being entirely automatic in conjunction with the operation of the brake, leaves no act orheed on the part of the driver of the machine necessar and, moreover, the cost of the appliance is comparatively small.

I claim In a signaling device, in combination with the rear axle housing of an automobile, a bracket supported on said housing, extended rearwardly therefrom and provided with an upstanding member, a signaling member' which atits lower end is pivotally connected to said upstanding,member on an axis parallel with that of the rearaxle of the vehicle, a brake operating rod, and a rod-connected with and rangingsubstantially parallel with the brake operating rod and 'rearwardly extended to connection with said signaling L55 member ata point slightly above the point of pivotal connection of said signaling member -with said support, a stop on the upstanding member of said bracket on which the signal member rests normally in an approxi- 6.0

mately horizontal position, another stop provided at an upper part of the said upstanding member for limiting the signal member in an upwardly and rearwardly inclined position, and said second mentioned rod com- 6.5

prising separate-ly formed sectionshav-ing a spring 'retracting lost motion connection,

Signedyby lme at Springfield, Mass., in

presence of two,subscribi'ng witnesses.

HAROLD T.KMURPHY.

PlVitne'sses:

G. R. DmscoLL, WVM. S. BELLows. 

